This is the big one. The Crucible is the National Theatre at its strongest: unapologetic, classic, unsparing, gripping, impassioned. Here’s the heavy artillery, intellectual and dramatic, a big ensemble on a bare stage conjuring – in Es Devlin’s moody set – an illimitable blackness beyond. Hell and hysteria rage and choke and howl out across the centuries with all the power of irrationality.
REVIEW ROUND-UP: The Crucible at the National Theatre
Discover what critics have made of Lyndsey Turner’s production of Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible, officially open at the National Theatre’s Olivier space.
‘Beautifully pitched adaptation’: UNDER MILK WOOD – National Theatre
Making Under Milk Wood a story within a story is a risk but one that pays off, adding a tender father-son connection that ties that multifaceted sprawl of Dylan Thomas’ story together.
Frankenstein vs Frankenstein: Was role swapping any more than a gimmick?
This is the theatre at its very best and on screen, both productions are gripping, using the camera work to richly convey the abstract shapes and grand vision of its boldly beautiful staging, while allowing the connection between the lead actors to shine.
‘It is Cumming’s performance which you are drawn to’: ENDGAME – Old Vic ★★★★
It is stuffed dogs, ladders and individual performances in Endgame which stay with me rather than anything more philosophical about the human condition.
‘The satisfying bleakness of the text is allowed to breathe’: ENDGAME – Old Vic
A star cast led by Daniel Radcliffe, Alan Cumming and Jane Horrocks make light work of the Beckett classic Endgame.
‘A pin-drop silence falls over the auditorium’: ENDGAME / ROUGH FOR THEATRE II – The Old Vic
Much is to be taken from the strangeness of the settings and fine characterful performances in Endgame and Rough For Theatre II which should please Beckett fans and providing plenty of thoughtful material for the journey home.
CASTING: Jane Horrocks & Karl Johnson join Alan Cumming & Daniel Radcliffe in Endgame
Jane Horrocks and Karl Johnson will join, as previously announced, Alan Cumming and Daniel Radcliffe in the Old Vic’s forthcoming revival of Samuel Beckett’s 1957 classic Endgame.
Five things you may not know about Glenda Jackson… now King Lear
I suppose what I’m driving at is that having swerved from the stage into a political career, my concern was how easily could she take up acting again? The astonishing thing about King Lear is that the answer is seamlessly: with power, and clarity, and complete command of the stage. Given how much acting has changed since 1980, this is astonishing and she deserves to be seen.
Five things you may not know about Glenda Jackson… now King Lear
I suppose what I’m driving at is that having swerved from the stage into a political career, my concern was how easily could she take up acting again? The astonishing thing about King Lear is that the answer is seamlessly: with power, and clarity, and complete command of the stage. Given how much acting has changed since 1980, this is astonishing and she deserves to be seen.
Five things you may not know about Glenda Jackson… now King Lear
I suppose what I’m driving at is that having swerved from the stage into a political career, my concern was how easily could she take up acting again? The astonishing thing about King Lear is that the answer is seamlessly: with power, and clarity, and complete command of the stage. Given how much acting has changed since 1980, this is astonishing and she deserves to be seen.
KING LEAR – Old Vic Theatre
“’Tis the time’s plague when madmen lead the blind”… Though no spring chicken myself, I’m not quite the right age to be truly excited about Oscar winning actress-turned politician-turned actress again Glenda Jackson’s return to the stage.
KING LEAR – Old Vic Theatre
It is to Ms Jackson’s high honour that as it transpires the most notable thing is that she is tremendous. Archly parental at first, pompous and swaggering thrillingly terrifying in her rages and curses, a terror of the earth.